# US 10,502,021 B2 · Valve removal plug assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,021 B2 - Document ID: US10502021B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/393,061 - Filed: 2016-12-28 - Published: 2018-06-28 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-28 - Assignees: Cameron International Corporation - Applicants: Cameron International Corporation - Inventors: Paul Healy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502021B2 ## CPC - E21B 34/02: in well heads - E21B 33/03: Well heads; Setting-up thereof - E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) - E21B 47/00: Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A system includes a first valve removal (VR) plug, a VR plug housing, and a second VR plug. The first VR plug includes a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a first volume adjacent to the first VR plug and to wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of the sensed characteristic, wherein the first VR plug is configured to form a first seal with a flange of a mineral extraction component. The VR plug housing includes a first flange configured to be disposed about the VR plug and to couple to the flange of the mineral extraction component, a second VR plug recess comprising an interior threaded surface, and a second flange disposed about the second VR plug recess. The second VR plug includes a threaded exterior surface configured to engage with the threaded interior surface of the second VR plug recess to form a second seal between the second VR plug and the VR plug housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a first valve removal (VR) plug, comprising: a sensor configured to sense a first characteristic of a first volume adjacent to the first VR plug; and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of the first characteristic, wherein the first VR plug is configured to form a first seal with a body of a mineral extraction component; a VR plug housing, comprising: a first flange configured to be disposed about the first VR plug and to couple to the body of the mineral extraction component; a second flange comprising an interior threaded surface that defines a second VR plug recess; a receiver configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic from the wireless transmitter; a communications port disposed within the second flange; and a connector communicatively coupled to the receiver and the communications port, wherein the connector extends from the receiver, through the second flange, to the communications port; wherein the receiver is configured to communicate the signal indicative of the first characteristic to the communications port via the connector; and a second VR plug comprising a threaded exterior surface configured to engage with the threaded interior surface of the second VR plug recess to form a second seal between the second VR plug and the VR plug housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising an electronic sleeve disposed about the first VR plug, the electronic sleeve comprising the wireless transmitter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a blind flange configured to be coupled to, and form a third seal with, the second flange of the VR plug housing and disposed about the second VR plug. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the blind flange comprises a circuit board configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic, convert the signal to a desired output, and transmit the converted signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the blind flange comprises a glass bead or an inductive coupling by which the converted signal is transmitted from the communications port to the circuit board. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a gate valve housing, comprising: a gate valve housing flange configured to couple to, and form a fourth seal with, the second flange of the VR plug housing; and a gate valve configured to open and close. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, comprising a lubricator tool configured to extend through the gate valve housing and the VR plug housing to install or remove the first VR plug and the second VR plug. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first VR plug comprises a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of a second volume adjacent to the first VR plug, the first and second volumes are on opposite sides of the first VR plug, and the signal wirelessly transmitted by the wireless transmitter is indicative of the first characteristic and the second characteristic. ### Claim 9 A system, comprising: a first valve removal (VR) plug, comprising: a first sensor configured to sense a first characteristic of a first volume adjacent to the first VR plug; and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of the first characteristic, wherein the first VR plug is removable to enable installation of a valve along a fluid passage; and a VR plug housing, comprising: a first flange configured to be disposed about the first VR plug and to couple to a body of a mineral extraction component; a second flange, comprising a communications port; a receiver configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic from the wireless transmitter; and a connector communicatively coupled to the receiver and the communications port, wherein the connector extends from the receiver, through the second flange, to the communications port; wherein the receiver is configured to communicate the signal indicative of the first characteristic to the communications port via the connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the first VR plug comprises a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of a second volume adjacent to the first VR plug, and the first and second volumes are on opposite sides of the first VR plug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the first VR plug housing defines the second volume in fluid communication with the first VR plug. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to predict trends in monitored conditions based on feedback from the first sensor, the second sensor, or both. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to determine differentials in monitored conditions on the opposite sides of the first VR plug. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured to monitor the first sensor during installation, removal, or servicing of the first VR plug. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, comprising: a blind flange configured to be coupled to the second flange of the VR plug housing, wherein the blind flange comprises a circuit board configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic; and a glass bead or an inductive coupling communicatively coupling the communications port to the circuit board. ### Claim 16 A system, comprising: a first valve removal (VR) plug configured to seal a fluid passage, wherein the first VR plug comprises: a first sensor configured to sense a first characteristic of a first volume adjacent to the first VR plug; a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of a second volume adjacent to the first VR plug, wherein the first and second volumes are on opposite sides of the first VR plug; and a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of the first characteristic and the second characteristic to a receiver of a first housing disposed about the first VR plug; wherein the first housing comprises: a first flange configured to be disposed about the first VR plug and to couple to a body of a mineral extraction component; a second flange, comprising a communications port; the receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic and the second characteristic from the wireless transmitter; and a connector communicatively coupled to the receiver and the communications port, wherein the connector extends from the receiver, through the second flange, to the communications port; wherein the receiver is configured to communicate the signal indicative of the first characteristic and the second characteristic to the communications port via the connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, comprising a second VR plug configured to seal the fluid passage, and a second housing having a third volume in fluid communication with the second VR plug. ### Claim 18 A system, comprising: a first housing, comprising: a first flange configured to be disposed about a first VR plug and to couple to a body of a mineral extraction component; a second flange, comprising a communications port; a receiver configured to receive a signal indicative of a first characteristic of a first volume adjacent to the first VR plug from a wireless transmitter of the first VR plug; and a connector communicatively coupled to the receiver and the communications port, wherein the connector extends from the receiver, through the second flange, to the communications port; wherein the receiver is configured to communicate the signal indicative of the first characteristic to the communications port via the connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, comprising a second housing having a second volume configured to receive a second VR plug, wherein the second housing is configured to couple to the first housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic and a second characteristic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, comprising: a blind flange configured to be coupled to the second flange of the first housing wherein the blind flange comprises a circuit board configured to receive the signal indicative of the first characteristic; and a glass bead or an inductive coupling communicatively coupling the communications port to the circuit board.